Students Perceptions of Learning Environment in Jazan Medical School in Saudi Arabia

Background: Students’ perceptions of their learning environment are important for continuous improvement of the educational environments and curriculum by defining their strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, this study aims to explore medical students’ perceptions of their learning environment at the Jazan Faculty of medicine in Jazan City, Saudi Arabia. Different aspects of the educational environment were compared across year levels and gender.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted at the Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University. A total of 400 medical students participated in this study, with a response rate of 83.5%. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Comparisons of the mean score of Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) subscales were calculated.ResultsFrom 334 students who submitted the questionnaire, almost equal participation of male (50.6%) and female (49.4%) students was observed. The mean total sum for each individual in all subscales is 104.9 (SD = 26.353), with male students having a mean of 100.36 (SD = 26.078), and for female students, the mean was 109.54 (SD = 25.897). The highest mean was observed among third-year female students (Mean = 115.57), and the lowest mean value was observed among fifth-year male students (Mean = 92). An examination of each of the 50 items in the DREEM inventory revealed that 26 items scored between 2.00 and 3.00, while 22 items scored less than 2.00. Those with a score of 2.00 or less were identified as problem areas in this medical school and are therefore addressed in this study. The overall score showed that the medical students’ perceptions were low. The students’ perceptions of the educational environment were not impressive for all five DREEM subscales.ConclusionAccording to the findings of the study, student perceptions of their learning environment are generally lower than expected from the faculty's perspective. Based on these findings, the study was able to identify areas that were found to be particularly problematic and, as a result, should be prioritized for improvement.